Press Release 08/01/2006
Contact: Public Affairs (404) 656-3689
Avoid Pacific Northwest raw oysters, says advisory
From FDA and Georgia’s Ag Chief, Tommy Irvin
Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin today told consumers to heed a Food and Drug Administration advisory to avoid eating raw oysters harvested in the Pacific Northwest as a result of reports that some of the oysters recently harvested from that region were contaminated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp), a bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness.
The Washington State Department of Health has issued a recall for oysters in the shell harvested after July 13 from closed growing areas in Hood Canal and south Puget Sound as a precautionary measure.
The advisory and the recall were issued as a result of more than 70 reported cases of vibriosis, an illness caused by eating raw oysters contaminated with elevated levels of the naturally occurring marine water bacteria, Vibrio parahaemolyticus.
“Since Pacific Northwest oysters are distributed nationwide, our sanitarians will be checking for the oysters during their inspections of retail and wholesale food operations,” Commissioner Irvin said.
The Washington State Health Department reports that it is working closely with the shellfish growing industry to manage the situation and that additional time and temperature controls at harvest have also been issued for all growing areas in the state through Oct. 1
# # #
Print this